# NTSB FTW79FQD08: Cessna 320D, N3322Q, El Paso, TX, March 11, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 11, 1979
- Place: El Paso, TX · EL PASO, TX
- Location: 31.7587° N, 106.4869° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Paso, TX, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.7587&lon=-106.4869&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 26, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 137744
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FQD08
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FQD08

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0168  79/3/11    EL PASO,TX          CESSNA 320D         CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 64, 20850
        TIME - 1207                    N3322Q              PX-  0  0  0  AIR TAXI-PASSG            TOTAL HOURS, 1230 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - EL PASO INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          EL PASO,TX                  SILVER CITY NM
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           FIRE OR EXPLOSION: IN FLIGHT                             IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - EXHAUST SYSTEM: MANIFOLDS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FIRE IN ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING ON AIRPORT/SEAPLANE BASE/HELIPT.
        REMARKS- MANIFOLD HEADER PN 0850712-34 FAILED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3322Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3322Q-2015-01-27), registration cancelled 2015-01-27, S/N 320D0122, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 320D
- Registry model: [Cessna 320D](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-320d) (registry code 2074512) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: El Paso Intl

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19790311004579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790311004579A), Mar 11, 1979: Cessna 320D, El Paso, TX, Substantial damage. Complete failure of exhaust flange on inboard side of exhaust manifold. Fire in flight.

## Other investigations on N3322Q (2)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX87LA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX87LA280), Jul 24, 1987: Cessna 320D (N3322Q), Banning, CA, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW81FPG02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FPG02), Oct 3, 1980: Cessna 320D (N3322Q), N Little Rock, AR, substantial damage

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.
